What elements does the high-visibility clothing regulations take into account?

If you want to be up to date on high visibility clothing, current regulations and typologies, take a few minutes to read the following article from T2S Ibérica.

Like any garment, high-visibility clothing must meet a number of parameters known as “quality standards.

Significantly, beyond being a textile product, these types of items are essential for industrial safety, so their manufacture is subject to even stricter measures than in conventional clothing.

From T2S Ibérica, as experts in high visibility clothing, we want to present the existing considerations in this field and the regulations to which it is subject.

Compliance with the rules is essential for any regularized environment and high visibility garments do not escape this reality.

High visibility clothing: ISO 20471

The ISO 20471 standard establishes the parameters under which high-visibility clothing must be manufactured, highlighting three essential levels on the type of garment that can be marketed and worn by workers.

High visibility clothing: class 3

ISO 20471 Class 3 represents the highest level of protection for high visibility clothing, designed to provide superior safety in highly hazardous working environments.

This category ensures that the garment fully covers the upper extremities and torso, maximizing the wearer’s visibility in low light conditions or at night. Class 3 garments are equipped with retroreflective tapes of greater surface area and quality, strategically placed to ensure visibility from all angles, even in high-risk situations.

In addition, these items are manufactured with materials resistant to corrosive and flammable elements, offering an additional barrier against possible occupational accidents. This comprehensive protection is indispensable for workers in sectors such as construction, road maintenance and any activity involving exposure to vehicular traffic or adverse conditions.

High visibility clothing: class 2

The ISO 20471 Class 2 category is extended to include garments such as sleeveless vests and T-shirts, specifically designed to provide a balance between comfort and safety.

These items are particularly suitable for work in high mobility environments, where flexibility and freedom of movement are paramount.

In addition, the design of these garments focuses on optimizing the distribution of retroreflective and fluorescent areas, to ensure optimum visibility both day and night.

The importance of Class 2 becomes more evident in variable working conditions, where lighting and background may change, requiring constant visibility without compromising worker comfort.

The adaptability of these garments to different climates and work situations underlines their value, making them a versatile choice for a wide range of professional activities.

The integration of high-quality materials and advanced technologies in the manufacture of Class 2 garments ensures exceptional durability and functionality, making them a smart investment for occupational safety.

High visibility clothing: class 1

Within the classification of the ISO 20471 standard, class 1 indicates the basic safety standards for high visibility clothing, intended for environments with minor hazards.

This category is essential in situations where visibility is important, but the danger of accidents is comparatively low. Despite being the most basic level, it is still crucial for certain work environments, especially those subject to sudden climatic changes, where the versatility and adaptability of clothing is critical to worker safety.

The incorporation of additional quality standards ensures that protection is adequate under a variety of conditions, highlighting the importance of thorough preparation for elements such as cold or rain.

High visibility normative clothing: types of seams according to EN 343 standard

The seams can be simple or welded. They should also be covered with a thermal layer that allows the individual to maintain the body temperature in optimal conditions.

In addition, heavy rain usually brings with it other particularities such as a decrease in temperature and the rise of fog, so this garment allows the worker to be seen in a better way and to safeguard his integrity when working in outdoor environments.

How to complement high-visibility clothing in the face of other latent risks?

The ISO 20471 standard, although it is very important in the industrial and labor context, requires other quality certifications that are integrated in the manufacture of high visibility clothing, since there are other types of risks when working in extreme conditions.

For example, ISO 14116, EN 1149-5 and EN 13034 provide for protection against burns, electrical shock and corrosive materials, respectively.

The chances of suffering occupational accidents in these conditions are greatly increased by the exposure that workers must have, so it is essential to consider acquiring garments and other implements that are truly useful to protect the integrity of individuals.

On the other hand, high-visibility workwear should always be under constant review, since technological advances can lead to a noticeable improvement in the performance of these items.

The preservation of the health and physical condition of workers is not only a moral but also a legal obligation, so that compliance with these standards implies a series of benefits at different levels.

Considering this premise, at T2S Ibérica we have an extensive catalog of high visibility clothing, manufactured under these strict production parameters and complying with national and international legislation and standards.

If you need more information or have specific questions about high visibility clothing regulations, you can find out how to contact us on our website.

As specialists in high visibility clothing, we can help you find out all the details about high visibility clothing regulations and we will do our best to meet your requirements. In this way, you will have the necessary industrial and work safety tools to safeguard the integrity of the workers.

Call us at 93 848 05 68 or write to us at [email protected]. You can also take a few seconds to fill in the form you will find in this link. Count on T2S Ibérica to protect your workers!